For many people, one of the best parts of traveling to Japan is the opportunity to stay in a traditional ryokan.
If you’re looking for an authentic Japanese experience with a little bit more privacy than what the traditional onsen experience offers, a ryokan with a private onsen is the perfect option.
Private onsens offer a level of privacy and relaxation that you simply can’t find at a public bathhouse. You can enjoy the soothing waters of the hot spring without having to worry about who might be watching or overhearing you.
Hakone is home to some of the best ryokans in Japan, and most of them offer their own private onsen, as well as stunning nature views and plenty of activities to keep you busy.
Please note that because of their popularity, ryokan rooms with their own private onsen tend to get booked out weeks (or even months) in advance. My tip to you is once you’ve set your eyes on the ryokan you love, it’s best to try and book that room as soon as you can.
Read on for our picks for the best ryokans with private onsens in Hakone, Japan!
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Table of Contents
What Is A Ryokan?
In a nutshell, aryokanis a traditional Japanese inn that provides guests with a unique and authentic Japanese overnight experience.
Staying at aryokangenerally involves sleeping on futons on tatami mats, and wearing yukata robes while relaxing in the common areas.
Other activities that guests can enjoy while staying at aryokaninclude soaking in an onsen hot spring, taking part in a tea ceremony, and dining on kaiseki cuisine.
When staying at aryokan, visitors can expect to enjoy traditional Japanese cuisine and hospitality. Truly, the food and staff are both an experience of their own!
Ryokans are typically located in scenic areas such as by the ocean or in the mountains, and many offer views of nearby gardens or temples. Whether you’re looking for a place to relax and rejuvenate, or simply want to immerse yourself in Japanese culture, staying at a ryokan is an unforgettable experience.
Read More: What To Expect At A Ryokan In Japan (+ Review Of My Ryokan Experience)
My Top Pick For Best Ryokan In Hakone
Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU
- Opened in April 2017
- All rooms come with their own private open-air bath
- There are also public baths including a hot spring infinity pool and a hot spring bath in a forest with a waterfall.
- Three restaurants on the property so you really never have to leave
- The breakfast buffet is complimentary with your stay, but you should 100% opt for the dinner package too!
Runner Up: Fujiya Hotel – good if you like more of a regular ‘hotel’ style accommodation
Best For Budget Travelers: Laforet Club Hakone Gora Yunosumika
10 Best Ryokan In Hakone For Your Next Trip
1. Kinnotake Tonosawa Ryokan
Cost: $$$$
Kinnotake Tonosawa Ryokan is an intimate adults-only ryokan that’s perhaps the most luxurious on this list. From the attentive 5-star service to the surrounding bamboo grove that creates the most inviting atmosphere, this ryokan will be a pure delight.
And the food? Oh yes, the food. The meals here are some of the best you’ll ever taste at any ryokan. They’re comparable to Michelin-star meals!
The luxury guest rooms all come with a private onsen bath. There is quite a variety of private onsen styles offered at this ryokan with names such as Haruka, Tsuki, Hoshi, etc., so half the fun is choosing the room you want! You can check them all out online and book the one that calls to you the most.
And as this is an luxury ryokan, it comes with extra amenities such as a complimentary mini bar with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink choices.
This one’s amazing — there’s no doubt about that — but because of how pricey it is, it’s not for everyone!
2. okcs Retreat Hakone villa
Cost: $$$
Nestled in the foothills of Mount Fuji, Hakone Retreat is one of the best Ryokans in Hakone, Japan. This villa-style property offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valley, as well as a variety of amenities and activities to keep guests entertained.
The 4-star ryokan itself offers spacious and well-appointed villa suites, with a large living space, fireplaces, wine fridges, and even amazing speaker quality for music! Each room has a well-stocked, complimentary mini bar as well as tea and coffee, which is always a nice touch.
Best of all, each room comes with a private onsen that guests can enjoy whenever they want. Private villa with a private onsen? You can’t beat it!
Outside, guests can enjoy the villa’s garden, pool, onsite restaurant, and hot tub. Dinner and breakfast can be served in your room or in the shared dining room.
There is also a shuttle service that runs to and from the nearby town of Hakone, making it easy to explore all that this picturesque region has to offer. There is also a bus station next to the hotel.
3. Hakone Kowakien Tenyu
Cost: $$ – $$$ TWE RECOMMENDED CHOICE
People come to Hakone Kowakien Tenyu to experience world-class service and to feel tranquility at its finest.
Opened in April 2017, Hakone Kowakien Tenyu offers Japanese-style rooms with tatami flooring and private onsens, as well as various communal open-air baths made with Shigaraki pottery.
The standout features of this ryokan include the private baths and quality of the meals here. Both dinner and breakfast are going to be exceptionally good and beautifully presented. Not to mention, the staff members here are very attentive and will make you feel really welcome.
Upon arriving, you can take a stroll through the garden on the first floor, then get yourself a nice and relaxing couples massage!
In terms of onsen amenities, you get a choice of two public baths, in addition to the private one in your room. Both the infinity-style onsen and the onsen with the waterfall are great.
There is an on-site bar and lounge in addition to a Japanese-style restaurant. Hakone Kowakien Tenyu offers a self-serve breakfast buffet. For dinner, guests can enjoy Japanese and Western-style fusion cuisine.
4. Fujiya Hotel
Cost: $$ – $$$ TWE RECOMMENDED CHOICE
Bright, airy, and beautiful are the words that come to my mind when I think of Fujiya Hotel’s property. From the building’s exterior to the rooms to both the indoor and outdoor baths, this spot has got its aesthetics spot on.
Trust me, this hotel will far exceed your expectations. Not only can you enjoy the onsens on the property, but this hotel also has a museum, a garden and greenhouse, a spa and a restaurant in a converted Imperial Villa called Kikka-so Inn.
Rooms are divided into 5 different buildings constructed between 1891 and 1960, providing a variety of different architectural styles and decors for guests to enjoy.
And while the indoor onsen looks like a swimming pool, it’s actually fed by hot spring water!
There’s so much eating to be done here too! There’s the Main Dining Room “The Fujiya” that serves French cuisine in an elegant space. Restaurant Cascade offers Western dishes, while Kikka-so serves traditional Japanese kaiseki dinners. A bar, lounge, and bakery are available.
From enjoying tea and apple pie on the veranda, to dining on the French-style dinner and wine pairing to the most spectacular breakfast in the morning, it’s hard to find anything to not like about Fujiya.
In terms of location, the Gora area and Hakone-Yumoto Train Station are a 15-minute drive. The hotel offers a free shuttle from nearby Miyanoshita Train Station.
5. Kijitei Hoeiso
Cost: $$$
Kijitei Hoeiso is a wonderful ryokan in Hakone that specializes in Japanese-style accommodations features both outdoor and indoor hot spring baths. The rooms are beautiful, traditional, and just all-around immaculate.
Rooms feature tatami (woven-straw) flooring with traditional futon bedding. Despite the traditional setting, there are some modern amenities as well! All rooms are fitted with both air conditioning and heating facilities. Each room is also equipped with a flat-screen TV and a fridge.
A Japanese breakfast and dinner are served in either the communal dining area or in the privacy of your own room.
When hotel guests are not eating, they can relax in the garden or unwind in the public baths. A private onsen can also be reserved.
This outdoor bath is very unique compared to others on this list because it’s situated right by the river. Can you imagine how relaxing it’d be to listen to the river babble while enjoying a soak in the onsen?
6. Hakone Fuga
Cost: $$
Hakone Fuga Ryokan offers a more modern experience, with spacious rooms featuring hardwood floors and raised Western-style beds. In fact, the rooms here are some of the largest rooms you’ll probably stay at in Japan.
In terms of food, Hakone Fuga grants guests a creative Japanese-Western kaiseki cuisine experience for dinner and breakfast.
Guests can unwind in their very own private open-air onsen for an additional charge. You’ll just need to select a room with an onsen upon booking.
From the complimentary glass of wine at check-in to the beautiful foliage views from the guestrooms and the tranquil onsen baths to the delicious meals served here–you can expect quite the delightful experience.
While the property is a bit further from the main attractions in Hakone, a free shuttle service is available to guests, but only within 10 min from the property.
7. Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori
Cost: $$
Featuring a terrace with views of Lake Ashi, Ashinoko Hanaori offers a wonderful ryokan experience, from its soothing hot spring baths to its relaxing sauna. Even upon arriving, you will be wowed. Almost immediately, guests are treated to a lovely view of Ashinoko that is made more breathtaking by the hotel’s infinity pond.
Each room will feature a view of either the lake or the mountain. Some rooms have balconies with private onsens, while others are more basic.
In terms of amenities, you’re going to find a good amount here. The ryokan has an expansive public onsen, a private onsen that can be booked for an additional charge, an on-site restaurant and shop, and guests can relax with a massage treatment at the property.
And if you’re wondering if Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori is in a good location, you can rest assured that it is! The property is located a 2-minute walk from Togendai Station, close to Hakone Ropeway and the pirate cruise boats.
There is also a free shuttle bus service to Odawara Station that’s offered a few times daily. Please note that this needs to be booked in advance.
Also of note is that both dinner and breakfast are both buffet-style as opposed to in-room dining.
8. Tensui Saryo
Cost: $$
At Tensui Saryo, you can expect great and spacious rooms with private open-air baths. And of course, like many ryokans in the area, the food will be amazing.
There are a few different rooms with private onsens you can choose from, but one thing is consistent among them all–the fact that you get to enjoy it on your own little balcony just elevates your experience that much more. The mountain views are incredible!
Once you are done soaking for the afternoon, it’s time to prepare for dinner. Emerge from your room dressed in your traditional yukata and head to the restaurant for an elaborate 10-course kaiseki dinner.
For all my coffee drinkers, they also provide drip coffee in the room! Another little bonus is that there is nice cafe right in front of the hotel.
In terms of location, Gora Station is literally just around the corner, with cable cars and a bus stop nearby. Given such a prime location, Tensui Saryo is ideal for traveling around Hakone for few days.
9. Hakone Suimeisou
Cost: $$
If you’re looking for a moderately-priced ryokan near Hakone Yumoto Station, Hakone Suimeisou is the place for you – it’s only 3 minutes away, making it a super central place to stay!
Its location is perfect if you want to take your time exploring the area and seeing attractions such as Odawara Castle and Hakone Open-Air Museum.
While this ryokan isn’t your traditional Japanese-style inn, it does a fantastic job of incorporating Japanese design concepts to make its simple, modern spaces reminiscent of traditional Japanese ryokan style.
You are able to reserve a room with its own private onsen, which you can use whenever you want. Aside from the other private onsen that can be reserved for a period of time, there is also a public onsen on the top floor that can be visited by all guests.
If you’re looking for that extra privacy, do try and book the private onsen room if possible, otherwise, the public open-air onsen on the top floor is great.
10. Laforet Club Hakone Gora Yunosumika
Cost: $
Laforet Club Hakone Gora Yunosumika is one of the best ryokan options for budget travelers who want to experience this traditional Japanese lodging experience.
Boasting natural hot spring baths, Laforet Club Hakone Gora Yunosumika offers guestrooms with either modern décor or traditional Japanese ambiance.
For an additional charge, you can upgrade to the rooms with a private onsen–even though they do cost just a little bit more, getting a little soak in without leaving your room is so worth it!
In terms of location, Nakagora Cablecar Station is a 5-minute walk away. It is a bit of a walk to Gora Station, but luckily guests can take advantage of the shuttle service to the ropeway or Gora Station.
Guests can enjoy a Japanese breakfast buffet and a 6-course tasting menu for dinner at the restaurant.
A range of activities can be enjoyed around the property including hiking and canoeing.
Some BasicOnsenRules To Know
Before you jump right into anonsenfor the first time, there are a few rules you should be aware of.
- Get naked.
- As this is a bath and not a pool, you must take off all of your clothing and leave it in the changing area. There is no need to be shy because everyone else there is also doing the same. It’s a judgment-free zone and nobody is going to be looking at you.
- Rinse off.
- After entering the bath area, you’ll need to wash yourself off at the showers before entering the baths. (In Japan, baths are for soaking, not for cleaning yourself. You gotta do that beforehand.) The shower areas typically consist of a showerhead, a small stool, and shower/bath toiletries.
- Put your stuff away.
- Once you’ve completely rinsed off, feel free to enter the baths. Some people like to bring a face towelette with them (to be placed on the head or the face). Aside from this towel, refrain from bringing anything else in.
- Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the warm soothing waters of theonsen!
Essential Tips For Staying At A Ryokan
- Dinner and breakfast are typically included in the price of your stay. If you are given a choice upon booking, opt for the meal package! Expect a huge spread of traditional Japanese deliciousness for both meals.
- At some ryokans, you’ll eat sitting cross-legged on the floor. At other more Westernized ones, you can eat at tables while sitting in chairs.
- Just like in Japanese homes, it is customary to take off your shoes before entering Japanese inns. More modern ryokans might not require you to take off your shoes until you get to your room. No matter what though, you should never wear your shoes on the tatami mats.
- Many ryokans feature a public soaking area or onsen, that you can use if you’re not afraid of being naked in front of others.
- It’s customary to shower before getting into the bath so you don’t dirty the water.
- The traditional yukata that you’ll be wearing doubles as both pajamas and the outfit you wear to dinner.
- At some ryokans, walls are divided byshoji, translucent paper room dividers. Since they don’t offer much protection from sound, always be mindful of other guests who might be sleeping.
- During breakfast, coffee is not guaranteed (depends on the ryokan you choose). If you know you’ll need more caffeine than what a cup of green tea can offer, pack your own instant coffee to drink in the morning.
- Tattoos are technically still looked down upon in Japan. Many ryokans do not allow tattoos to be shown in public soaking areas. If you have tattoos, it may be best to look for ryokans offering private onsen tubs.
I hope this post helped you decide on the Hakone ryokan of your dreams! I know, it’s so hard to pick because they’re all so dreamy and wonderful, right?? Happy travels abroad!
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